James BaumgartnerNPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Kristin Espeland Gourlay joined Rhode Island Public Radio in July 2012. Before arriving in Providence, Gourlay covered the environment for WFPL Louisville, KY’s NPR station . And prior to that, she was a reporter and host for Wyoming Public Radio . Gourlay earned her MS from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and her BA in anthropology from Lewis &amp; Clark College in Portland, OR. She’s won multiple national, regional, and local awards for her reporting, and her work has aired on NPR and stations throughout the country. She’s particularly proud of the variety of protective clothing she’s had to wear on assignment, including helmets, waders, safety goggles, and snowshoes. Originally from Chicago, IL, Gourlay loves music, cooking, and spending time with her family.NPR Digital Services RSS Generator 0.94Kristin GourlayFri, 09 Dec 2016 17:29:01 +0000Kristin Gourlayhttp://ripr.org
Kristin GourlayThe Rhode Island American Civil Liberties Union has filed a class action lawsuit against the state’s Department of Human Services for what it calls a failure to provide food stamps in a timely manner. The suit alleges that the state’s new online benefits system, known as UHIP, has caused multiple problems for applicants waiting for benefits, including failing to process applications within the federal guideline of 30 days – or seven days for the neediest cases. ACLU volunteer attorney Lynette Labinger says the state is not doing enough. "They keep thinking they’ve got it under control. They clearly do not have it under control. There does not seem to be that total commitment that is usually brought about by a court order.” If the ACLU succeeds with its complaint, the court order would force the state to resolve food stamp cases by whatever means necessary within the legal timeframe. The state has not yet commented on the suit.ACLU Sues State Over Food Stamp Delayshttp://ripr.org/post/aclu-sues-state-over-food-stamp-delays
76111 as http://ripr.orgFri, 09 Dec 2016 17:14:40 +0000ACLU Sues State Over Food Stamp DelaysKristin GourlayState health care leaders are keeping a close watch on the future of the Affordable Care Act.The Pulse: What's At Stake For Rhode Islanders If Obamacare Is Repealed?http://ripr.org/post/pulse-whats-stake-rhode-islanders-if-obamacare-repealed
76022 as http://ripr.orgThu, 08 Dec 2016 11:00:00 +0000The Pulse: What's At Stake For Rhode Islanders If Obamacare Is Repealed?Kristin GourlayPresident-elect Donald Trump has nominated Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to serve as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. Co-Chair of the U.S. Senate Climate Action Task Force Senator Sheldon Whitehouse says he’s disheartened by the choice. He says Pruitt denies the reality of climate change. And the attorney general was among those who sued the EPA over its Clean Power Plan to mitigate climate change. In a statement to the press, Whitehouse says he expects Americans will be shocked at the president-elect’s choice. Pruitt’s nomination must be approved by the U.S. Senate.Sen. Whitehouse Slams Trump's EPA Pickhttp://ripr.org/post/sen-whitehouse-slams-trumps-epa-pick
76042 as http://ripr.orgWed, 07 Dec 2016 20:50:34 +0000Sen. Whitehouse Slams Trump's EPA PickKristin GourlayUPDATE: Gov. Gina Raimondo has appointed Tom Guthlein Acting Associate Director of Program Operations at DHS to oversee the customer service team. Director Melba Depeña-Affigne’s role has not changed.Raimondo: Hire 35 Temporary Staffers To Help Process Benefits Applicationshttp://ripr.org/post/raimondo-hire-35-temporary-staffers-help-process-benefits-applications
76027 as http://ripr.orgWed, 07 Dec 2016 17:06:31 +0000Raimondo: Hire 35 Temporary Staffers To Help Process Benefits ApplicationsKristin GourlayHere’s what’s happening in health in Rhode Island, Dec. 6: THUNDERMIST CEO : Thundermist Health Center President and CEO Chuck Jones is stepping down in February. Jones joined Thundermist in 2008. He moves on to be CEO of Harbor Health Services in Dorchester, MA. Thundermist will conduct a nationwide search for his replacement.Your Weekly Briefing: Health In Rhode Island, Dec. 6http://ripr.org/post/your-weekly-briefing-health-rhode-island-dec-6
75960 as http://ripr.orgTue, 06 Dec 2016 11:00:00 +0000Your Weekly Briefing: Health In Rhode Island, Dec. 6Kristin GourlayState lawmakers continue their oversight of the state's child welfare agency. At a hearing Tuesday night, Department of Children, Youth, and Families director Jamia McDonald said her organization has made progress.DCYF Reduces Group Home Use, Lightens Caseworker Load, But Challenges Remainhttp://ripr.org/post/dcyf-reduces-group-home-use-lightens-caseworker-load-challenges-remain
75756 as http://ripr.orgWed, 30 Nov 2016 19:05:06 +0000DCYF Reduces Group Home Use, Lightens Caseworker Load, But Challenges RemainKristin GourlayHere’s what’s happening in health in Rhode Island, Nov. 29: MEDICAID: Rhode Island has been awarded about $130 million dollars from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to continue overhauling its Medicaid program.Your Weekly Briefing: Health In Rhode Island, Nov. 29http://ripr.org/post/your-weekly-briefing-health-rhode-island-nov-29
75675 as http://ripr.orgTue, 29 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +0000Your Weekly Briefing: Health In Rhode Island, Nov. 29Kristin GourlayListenwise helps teachers use stories from RIPR in their classrooms. To find more public radio stories and lessons for your middle and high school ELA, social studies, and science classrooms you can sign up sign up for a free Listenwise account! Story Synopsis Rhode Island is home to a wide variety of seafood, but only some of it is being caught to eat in the United States. Most of the seafood gets shipped overseas, but some fish isn’t eaten because it isn’t popular or commonly seen in stores. A group of chefs, scientists and fishermen got together to experiment with cooking these less popular seafoods. The goal was to use underutilized fish in tasty recipies so that fish native to the Rhode Island waters would be eaten in the state as well. Listen to the story to hear more about these sea creatures and how they taste. Use with grades 6-9 Common Core State Standards CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RI.6.1: Cite textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly as well asRIPR in the Classroom: Chefs and Local Seafoodhttp://ripr.org/post/ripr-classroom-chefs-and-local-seafood
75688 as http://ripr.orgMon, 28 Nov 2016 22:49:47 +0000RIPR in the Classroom: Chefs and Local SeafoodKristin GourlayRhode Island has been awarded $130 million dollars over the next five years from the federal government to continue its work overhauling Medicaid. The health insurance program for the poor serves nearly one in three Rhode Islanders. T he money is earmarked for efforts that pay for better quality care instead of the quantity of care.RI Awarded $130M To Continue Medicaid 'Reinvention'http://ripr.org/post/ri-awarded-130m-continue-medicaid-reinvention
75668 as http://ripr.orgMon, 28 Nov 2016 17:49:34 +0000RI Awarded $130M To Continue Medicaid 'Reinvention'Kristin GourlayProvidence Business News Editor Mark Murphy joins Rhode Island Public Radio's Dave Fallon for our weekly business segment, The Bottom Line. This week, Dave speaks with Paul DeRoche, senior vice president for government relations at the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce. The discussion centers on what's hot for seasonal retail activity this year in downtown Providence and beyond. When to listen: You can hear The Bottom Line each Friday at 5:50 pm on Rhode Island Public Radio, 88.1 FM, 91.5 FM and 102.7 FM.The Bottom Line: Seasonal Retailing Heats Uphttp://ripr.org/post/bottom-line-seasonal-retailing-heats
75519 as http://ripr.orgFri, 25 Nov 2016 13:24:08 +0000The Bottom Line: Seasonal Retailing Heats UpKristin GourlayThis Thanksgiving many of us are gathering with family – some of whom we haven’t seen for a while. If that includes older relatives and friends, you might notice some changes. But which changes are part of the normal aging process, and which might indicate there’s a problem?The Pulse: Clinical Trials Show Promise Preventing, Slowing Progress Of Alzheimer'shttp://ripr.org/post/pulse-clinical-trials-show-promise-preventing-slowing-progress-alzheimers
75513 as http://ripr.orgThu, 24 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +0000The Pulse: Clinical Trials Show Promise Preventing, Slowing Progress Of Alzheimer'sKristin GourlayRhode Island’s Department of Human Services has submitted its corrective action plan to the U.S. Food and Nutrition Service. That’s what the federal agency required when it discovered a number of problems with Rhode Island’s new online benefits system, UHIP. Excessive wait times and overcrowding in DHS field offices. Computer glitches. A lack of staff training on the new system. The problems got so bad with the state’s new system for food stamps and other benefits that the federal agency asked them to draw up an emergency plan to fix the problems. The agency has now submitted that plan. The priority is to fix the technical issues that affect the most customers first, and resolve the remaining glitches by the middle of next year. The agency also plans to retrain employees on the new system. And they’re realigning staff and services to reduce wait times and overcrowding in field offices. There’s still an application backlog. The action plan outlines how the agency plans to reduce that asDHS Submits UHIP Fix-It Plan To Fedshttp://ripr.org/post/dhs-submits-uhip-fix-it-plan-feds
75517 as http://ripr.orgWed, 23 Nov 2016 16:41:03 +0000DHS Submits UHIP Fix-It Plan To FedsKristin GourlayThe City of Providence is recruiting members for a new Muslim-American advisory board. The mayor’s office says the initiative is aimed at protecting and serving every resident of the city regardless of race, religion, or other identifiers.Mayor Elorza Creates Muslim-American Advisory Boardhttp://ripr.org/post/mayor-elorza-creates-muslim-american-advisory-board
75467 as http://ripr.orgTue, 22 Nov 2016 17:16:17 +0000Mayor Elorza Creates Muslim-American Advisory BoardKristin GourlayA storage facility full of costumes for Festival Ballet’s annual production of the Nutcracker has apparently been robbed. The Providence ballet company is scrambling to find replacements in time for opening night.Ballet Company's Nutcracker Costumes Stolenhttp://ripr.org/post/ballet-companys-nutcracker-costumes-stolen
75466 as http://ripr.orgTue, 22 Nov 2016 17:10:49 +0000Ballet Company's Nutcracker Costumes StolenKristin GourlayHere’s what’s happening in health in Rhode Island, Nov. 21: HOSPITAL LAYOFFS: United Nurses and Allied Professionals (UNAP), a health care workers’ union, notified the press Friday that Prospect CharterCARE would be laying off about 30 employees at Our Lady of Fatima and Roger Williams Medical Center hospitals. In its statement, UNAP said, “ When Prospect lobbied the Providence City Council and North Providence Town Council in 2014 for hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax breakers, they promised to preserve and create new jobs through investment in Fatima Hospital and Roger Williams Medical Center. In fact, job preservation and creation were central to the councils’ willingness to pass ordinances giving Prospect its' tax breaks. Today, Prospect management proved that they cannot be trusted to keep their word. They have reneged on their promises to municipal leaders in Providence and North Providence and should be held accountable.” A spokesman for Prospect CharterCARE countered thatYour Weekly Briefing: Health In Rhode Island, Nov. 22http://ripr.org/post/your-weekly-briefing-health-rhode-island-nov-22
75287 as http://ripr.orgTue, 22 Nov 2016 11:02:00 +0000Your Weekly Briefing: Health In Rhode Island, Nov. 22Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and family were spotted in Rhode Island this weekend. T he Clintons visited Westerly where they stopped into a local bookstore. The cashier on duty wasn’t expecting a visit from one of the world’s most famous families. But the Clintons walked into the Savoy Bookshop and Café on Sunday. Savoy’s Annie Philbrick says they did some shopping. “The whole family came in, Hillary and Bill, and Chelsea and her husband and their daughter, and bought a wide selection of adults’ books and kids’ books.” It’s not known why the Clintons were in Rhode Island, but a source close to Democrats says they stayed at the Ocean House hotel in Watch Hill. “We were thrilled that the Clintons made the stop at the Savoy bookshop and were supporting independent bookstores," said Philbrick. "It was wonderful.” Philbrick says the family were gracious about taking pictures with the staff – who were surprised by the famous family’s unexpected visit. A bookstore employeePost Election, Clintons Visit Watch Hillhttp://ripr.org/post/post-election-clintons-visit-watch-hill
75443 as http://ripr.orgMon, 21 Nov 2016 21:23:03 +0000Post Election, Clintons Visit Watch HillKristin GourlayAttorney General Peter Kilmartin will once again try to make drunk driving penalties more stringent in the Ocean State. Kilmartin’s office says he has filed legislation for the past five years to try to stiffen sentencing and intends to do so again this legislative session. He wants drivers who kill someone while under the influence to face a maximum of 30, up from 15, years in prison. And drivers who injure someone while intoxicated would face increased penalties as well. That’s a provision the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island has opposed in the past. Kilmartin also hopes to increase something called the “look back” period from five to 10 years. That’s the period a drunk driving offense remains on a driver’s record. In Massachusetts , the look-back period is a lifetime.Kilmartin Tries Again To Stiffen DUI Penaltieshttp://ripr.org/post/kilmartin-tries-again-stiffen-dui-penalties
75438 as http://ripr.orgMon, 21 Nov 2016 20:32:27 +0000Kilmartin Tries Again To Stiffen DUI PenaltiesKristin GourlayLow income Rhode Islanders who seek help from emergency food banks are still going hungry. That’s according to a new report from the Rhode Island Community Food Bank.Low Income Rhode Islanders Still Missing Millions Of Mealshttp://ripr.org/post/low-income-rhode-islanders-still-missing-millions-meals
75294 as http://ripr.orgMon, 21 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +0000Low Income Rhode Islanders Still Missing Millions Of MealsKristin GourlaySen. Josh Miller (D-Cranston) has had a front row seat during the implementation of Obamacare in Rhode Island. Now, the prospect of a Trump presidency is creating uncertainty among proponents of the law.The Pulse: Sen. Josh Miller On The Future Of Affordable Health Care In RIhttp://ripr.org/post/pulse-sen-josh-miller-future-affordable-health-care-ri
75212 as http://ripr.orgThu, 17 Nov 2016 11:00:00 +0000The Pulse: Sen. Josh Miller On The Future Of Affordable Health Care In RIU.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat, is one of several federal lawmakers voicing concerns over Republican Donald Trump’s early preparations for the White House.Whitehouse, Cicilline Join Democrats Criticizing Trump Appointeeshttp://ripr.org/post/whitehouse-cicilline-join-democrats-criticizing-trump-appointees
75239 as http://ripr.orgWed, 16 Nov 2016 14:17:06 +0000Whitehouse, Cicilline Join Democrats Criticizing Trump Appointees